The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-02-18
Washington Letter


sand's action with regard t0 private pen
sion bills. and he conld not have been con-
sis,ent had he adopted any other course.
II j. too soon yet 10 say what congress
will do about IT, Its future action depends
much upon the manner in which the veto
Is received by the country. The bnmilia-
ting confession had a. well be made that
our National legislators follow public
opinion. instead Of leading it. some mem
bers Of the House who voted for this re-
markable pension bill saY now that they
suppose the President il right about IT.
Southern members are unqualified in their
approy Al Of the veto. and declares that It
will secure Mr. Cleveland the vote Of
southern delegates to the Democratic CON
yention and insure his nomination Others
who do not agree with the President; ac-
knowledge that the veto message l. very
able state paper. and that it will be almost
impossible now Ia pass the bill over the
veto. Representative Warner, Of ONO,
was opposed to the principle OF the Disa-
bilty Pension bin as a whole, but lac mann
tsins tl,a, the Mexican Pension bill CON
tanned much vi the same principle. and
that the President would be more consis-
tent and his position stronger had he We
toed both.
Great interest centered i'll the personnei
Of the counsel engaged in the great teie-
phone contest which has been argued here
for two weeks in the supreme Conr.. The
appel;snts were represented by an immense
array of counsel from all parts Of the
country. They were all able lawyers ane
commanded close attention from the crowd
ed audiences which heard them. The
GREAT inheritance OF this case will be better
understood by the fact that the interests
based on the Bell patents is now worth
over $1,000 600. The most ridiculous
incident of the whole case vas grand
closing attempt Of Mr. Bells counsel to
excite the fearful sympathy Of the stern
Justices for his client. Mr.. Bell. who has
made an enormous fortune ont of his mo-
nopoly. Who has crushed ont all competi-
tors, and Who has refused to accept the
use Of ysluabi e Improvements because his
profits would be diminished thereby, was
exhibited as poor, prosecuted wretch,
and compared TO Palsy, Watt, and other
martyrs The Supreme Court is now tax
ing its spring vacation. and several months
may elapse before it will render its deci-
sion.
The people of Washington are waiting
anxionsly for Congress to sanction with
generous appropriation, their scheme for
spanning the Potomac to Arlington with
magnificent, mile-long. memorial bridge to
General Grant. L. is proposed that this
monument to the great chleftain shall be
the ideal bridge of the world. II is to get
its monumental character from two grand
towers over the main piers in the middle Of
the river. Each of these towers is to be
$50 feet high, and constructed of granite,
with suitable inscriptions and allegorical
representations. IT is Intended that the
towers shall furnish implacement for mem
Orial stones or other objects dedicated from
the various States, countries and societies.
As in the time of the Roman Empire the
bridge is again being resorted to for mem
orial expression. 1t can easily be made an
imposing structure and lends itselfnatural-
~ to decoration. Since this is a unitarian
age, the memorial it builds should not only
mean something, but be worth something
not only be significant, but useful.
Statues and monolths belong to the past,
and great mementoes will more and more
hereafter take the form of schools,
museums. bridges, libraries, homes and
hospitals, thus combining service with
beauty.
The Presidents pastor complains that he
is grievously afflicted with office-seekers.
Why" said he, mo one has any idea OF
the trouble to which ! am daily subject
ed | dare say my mail is AS large as a
Cabinet officers, and the requests cover
everything that can be thought Of lie
says it does not avail him much 20 declare
House. That plea is construed as ruse
to relieve himself Of the responsibility, and
letters, prayers and entreatieS are then re-
doubled to induce him to lend helping
hand 10 the applicant
WESTON.
The returns the votes of the cities and